Founder of New Zealand’s first women’s refuge

At just 21 years of age, Rosemary
Howard co-founded the first women's refuge in Christchurch,
which was quickly inundated with victims of domestic abuse,
uncovering a then little-recognised problem. It was also the
first women’s refuge in New Zealand and the third in the
Western world.

Howard will speak about her
experiences - how the first women’s refuge started, what
happened as a result of lifting the lid on domestic violence
and the myths surrounding that violence that kept women
enslaved – at the Ara City Campus library on 17 October at
12 noon.

Studying a degree in Sociology, English
and History with minor focus on Religious Studies,
Philosophy and Psychology, Howard soaked up the theory that
backed her ideas and further fired her activism. “The
Sociology programme was amazing with its focus on race
relations, human ecology, deviant behaviour, role of
women… a great combination for my developing passion for
social justice and social activism,” she says.

“As a university student in the early ‘70’s I
became active in the women’s liberation movement. Issues
such as equal pay, childcare and equal rights for women were
a big focus.”

Discovering an alternative
lifestyle gave her the freedom to pursue many causes. “I
moved into an alternative way of life as part of a group who
established Chippenham/Mansfield Community…. There were 12
couples and six kids in three properties which we purchased
- two adjoining houses in Merivale and a farm at Oxford.
Merivale was aghast at this urban commune in their midst,
with its colourful characters and brightly clothed children.
However, this lifestyle of shared parenting and low cost of
living provided a great basis for many kinds of community
activities and for my radical feminist political
activity.

“My focus became dedicated to women’s
right to safe abortion and raising awareness of domestic
violence with the establishment of the first women’s
refuge shelter for women and children in New Zealand in 1973
in Kilmore Street Christchurch.”

The refuge
started as a women’s meeting and discussion place, but the
need for a shelter quickly arose as more and more women
turned up looking for a safe haven from abusive
partners.Howard was incredibly productive and busy
during this period, but the pace and pressure of looking
after vulnerable women with few resources was not
sustainable.

“I was a very busy young mum and
political activist throughout the 70’s, burning out from
my activities. I was hungry for contact with women in the US
who were doing amazing things, writing amazing books and
challenging the patriarchy. So I left New Zealand and
travelled extensively.”

Howard’s work lives on.
The refuge became Aviva in 2013, which still provides
essential support to women.

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